Tag: Shane Foley

Magical Lagoon Ready To Go For QEII Cup

Classic heroine Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is in “perfect condition” in advance of the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup on Nov. 14, according to assistant trainer Kate Harrington.

Racing for Zhang Yuesheng, the 3-year-old filly, who won the G2 Ribblesdale S. prior to her G1 Irish Oaks heroics, was fifth to future Arc winner Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks in August.

“This morning, she galloped for about six furlongs,” said Harrington, who assists her mother, Jessica. “We just wanted to get a nice breeze into her and for Shane [Foley] to see how she's moving and how she was.

“She lost a nice bit of weight traveling here, but she's back to her best weight now. With Shane riding her today, she knows it's coming close to the race date, she's in perfect condition and we couldn't be happier with her. She's taking everything well in her stride and settled in really well with the surroundings here.

“The quick surface in Japan is one of the reasons why we brought her here. She's done well on quick surfaces in Europe and I think the right-handed course at Hanshin will suit her well. Magical Lagoon is a tough horse, she has stamina and she'll never give up a fight.”

Jockey Shane Foley added, “Hanshin Racecourse is a very good and fair track with a long straight so that she can get into a battle. The harder the battle, the better she'll be.

“She's usually good out of the gate and quick into her strides so we hope to get a nice position in the first five or six and get her into a nice rhythm.

“We'd prefer that it doesn't rain and that we can race on fast track because her best form is on firm ground, but she's getting stronger all the time and I think she'll handle it well. The soft ground in Japan is different to soft ground in Europe so hopefully it won't get too bad.”

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Bolt d’Oro Represented By First European Winner

7th-Naas, €16,000, Mdn, 9-15, 2yo, 7fT, 1:31.33, g/y.
BOLD DISCOVERY (c, 2, Bolt d'Oro–Caribbean Babe, by Arch), sent off at 15-2, quickly established a clear advantage. Maintaining the gallop in game fashion in the straight, the bay hit the line strong with 2 1/2 lengths to spare over Peking Opera (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). “That was very impressive and he's a gorgeous horse,” Kate Harrington said. “He only came to us in June and has always done everything so easy. Obviously his sire is a sensation in America on the dirt and it's exciting for him to have a turf horse here. I think he's Kentucky-bred and there are plenty of bonuses and stuff to be won out there. He's very exciting for next season.” The winner, who becomes the first in Europe for his Spendthrift Farm-based sire (by Medaglia d'Oro) and his 16th overall, is the first foal out of a half to four stakes performers including the GII Fayette S. winner Independence Hall (Constitution) and the GIII Spiral S. scorer Black Onyx (Rock Hard Ten). Related to the G1 Fillies' Mile heroine White Moonstone (Dynaformer), Caribbean Babe has a yearling colt by Independence Hall's sire, a filly foal by Improbable and was bred to Tiz The Law for 2023. Sales history: $50,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $9,581.
O-Fergus Galvin & Marc Detampel; B-Chc Inc. (KY); T-Jessica Harrington.

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Galileo’s Magical Lagoon Resilient In Irish Oaks Triumph

Yuesheng Zhang's Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}–Night Lagoon {Ger}, by Lagunas {GB}) displayed a willing attitude when annexing last month's G2 Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot and her determination was to the fore again as she refused to yield and battled gamely to a career high in Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh. Last term's G3 Flame of Tara S. victrix went off as the 5-4 favourite, in the absence of Epsom's G1 Oaks exacta Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), and raced under a firm hold behind the clear leader, Show Of Stars (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), in second. Inching ever closer from halfway, she cruised to the front on the bridle approaching the final quarter mile and called upon deep reserves under a drive in the closing stages to bravely repel the persistent threat of Toy (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) by a hard-fought half length, with Cairde Go Deo (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) 2 3/4 lengths further adrift in third.

Magical Lagoon, fourth on debut at Naas in August, had earlier backed up her Flame of Tara victory with a close-up seventh in Newmarket's Oct. 8 G1 Fillies' Mile in her juvenile season closer and opened this campaign with a short-head second contesting Navan's Apr. 23 Listed Salsabil S. in her penultimate start.

“It's wonderful to win one classic, to get two is absolutely amazing,” commented Jessica Harrington after adding to her 2018 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas success with Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). “She's such a game filly, who only does as much as she has to do and she's just a lovely filly to train for Mr Zhang. I kept looking at what was behind her, but I knew she'd keep staying. She stayed very well in Ascot, but they probably didn't go as quick as they did in Ascot. She just ran a great race, Shane [Foley] was in the right position and kept going forward. He rode a super race and she kept finding and finding. It's only her third run this year and I'd say she'll improve again. She's in the [G1] Yorkshire Oaks and after that I haven't really made a decision. It's been mooted and I'd love to keep her in training next year. I hope so because Galileos improve and her brother [Novellist] was a much better 4-year-old than 3-year-old. Before [Emily Upjohn's enforced withdrawal] we were the underdogs and I love being the underdog and having a go at them, but it's worked out great.”

Magical Lagoon, who becomes the 96th Group 1 winner for her sire, is one of five black-type performers produced by G3 Preis der Winterkonigin victrix Night Lagoon (Ger) (Lagunas {GB}), herself half to multiple stakes-winning G1 Deutsches Derby second Night Tango (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}) and one of three black-type performers out of Listed Dusseldorf-Preis winner Nenuphar (Ire) (Night Shift). Thus, the April-foaled bay is half to MG1SW G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S.-winning sire Novellist (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}), German Group 3 second Nuntius (Ger) (Dalakhani {Ire}), Listed Derby-Trial second Nerud (Bernardini) and the stakes-placed Ninfea (Ger) (Selkirk). Ninfea is the dam of G2 Prix Chaudenay runner-up Nemean Lion (Ger) (Golden Horn {GB}) and the stakes-placed Nayala (GB) (Maxios {GB}). Nenuphar, kin to the stakes-winning duo Nostro Amico (Ger) (Martillo {Ger}) and National Academy (Ger) (Royal Academy), traces back directly to G3 Zukunfts-Rennen victrix Night Music (Ger) (Pramos {Ger}), herself a half-sister to G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) heroine Novelle (Ger) (Northfields).

Saturday, Curragh, Ireland
JUDDMONTE IRISH OAKS-G1, €595,000, Curragh, 7-16, 3yo, f, 12fT, 2:34.02, gd.
1–MAGICAL LAGOON (IRE), 128, f, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Night Lagoon (Ger) (Broodmare Of The Year-Ger, Hwt. Filly-Ger, GSW-Ger), by Lagunas (GB)
2nd Dam: Nenuphar (Ire), by Night Shift
3rd Dam: Narola (Ger), by Nebos (Ger)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (305,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Yuesheng Zhang; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington; J-Shane Foley. €290,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 6-3-1-0, $486,123. *1/2 to Novellist (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}), Hwt. Older Horse at 4-Eur at 11-14f, Hwt. 3yo-Ger at 11-14f, Hwt. 3yo-Ity at 11-14f, G1SW-Eng, Fr, Ger & Ity, $1,873,588; Nuntius (Ger) (Dalakhani {Ire}), GSP-Ger; Ninfea (Ger) (Selkirk), SP-Ger; and Nerud (Bernardini), SP-Ger. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Toy (Ire), 128, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–You'resothrilling, by Storm Cat. 1ST BLACK-TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Westerberg; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €100,000.
3–Cairde Go Deo (Fr), 128, f, 3, Camelot (GB)–Elusive Galaxy (Ire) (GSP-Ire), by Elusive City. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€105,000 Ylg '20 ARDEAY). O-Mark Dobbin; B-Haras du Logis Saint-Germain (FR); T-Ger Lyons. €50,000.
Margins: HF, 2 3/4, HF. Odds: 1.25, 5.00, 6.00.
Also Ran: Emily Dickinson (Ire), Show of Stars (GB), Fennela (Ire), History (Ire). Scratched: Emily Upjohn (GB). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

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Hurling for Cancer Research Charity Match Attracts Stellar Cast

The Hurling for Cancer charity match, the brainchild of legendary trainer Jim Bolger, will return to St Conleth's Park, Newbridge, County Kildare on August 16, with a number of sporting and television stars committed to play in the tenth renewal.

Bolger and dual Aintree Grand National-winning jockey Davy Russell will bring a host of household names together to take part in the celebrity hurling match, all in aid of the Irish Cancer Society. 

Kilkenny's TJ Reid, Richie Hogan and Tommy Walsh, Limerick brothers Tom and Dan Morrissey, Wexford's Damien Fitzhenry and Lee Chin, Cork's Ashling Thompson and her partner, Limerick's Darragh O'Donovan and Clare's Peter Duggan and Ryan Taylor will be among the hurling and camogie stars taking part. 

Also joining the teams will be former Republic of Ireland midfielder Stephen Hunt and comedy duo, The 2 Johnnies. 

Russell will be joined by some of his racing colleagues with Rachael Blackmore, Ruby Walsh, Colin Keane, Paul Townend, Shane Foley, Danny Mullins, Kevin Manning, Gordon Elliott, Jack Kennedy, Ger Lyons, Jamie Codd and former Kildare footballer turned racehorse trainer Willie McCreery all signed up for the match.

Brian Cody and Liam Griffin will come on board as team managers while Paul McGrath, Ursula Jacob, Bernard Dunne, Ted Walsh, Miriam O'Callaghan, Anne Doyle and Dublin's John Small are among the many stars set to lend a hand as side-line officials and umpires. 

Jim Bolger's stars have come out on top four times, while Davy Russell's best have tasted victory twice, with the other three matches ending in draws. 

To date, the event has raised €1,000,000 to fund the Irish Cancer Society's innovative cancer research projects.

Bolger said, “After a two-year break, it's great to have Hurling for Cancer Research back at St Conleth's Park in Newbridge. It is a special night with a brilliant atmosphere and the players give it their all. There will be a lot of All-Ireland winners and All-Stars on the pitch, so we are in for an excellent game of hurling, for a cause that has unfortunately touched lots of families around Ireland.”

There is free car parking at Whitewater Shopping Centre on production of your Hurling for Cancer Research ticket. There is additional parking in Newbridge College grounds.

Gates open at 4:30pm with pre-match entertainment and refreshments before throw-in at 6pm. 

Tickets costing €10 for adults and €15 for families are currently on sale at www.HurlingForCancer.ie. Tickets will also be on sale at the gate on the night. 

Russell said, “I can't wait for Hurling for Cancer Research on August 16. The hurling championship will be over, so we will have a lot more hurlers available for selection. This could be the most competitive game yet in our 10-year history and reputations will certainly be on the line. I am working hard with my selectors to try get one over on Jim Bolger's team.”

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